Who is Sonja?

Sonja is the shy unicorn of the Hero level, one of the toys who live in the Attic. You play chess against her on a screen. She keeps her pieces out at the edges of the board, far from your king. But she does not guard her own king as well, and that is your chance. Beat her, and you have checkmated Sonja.

Game or Battle?

You can play Sonja in two ways:

• A Game has three helpers: a hint, an undo, and a reroll. The reroll makes Sonja take back her move and try a different one.
• A Battle has no helpers at all.
• Only a Battle counts for the sticker.

If you are new to Sonja, play a Game first to learn how she plays. After that, play a Battle.

Take the middle

Sonja leaves the middle of the board empty, so take it. A knight in the middle can jump to eight squares, but in a corner it reaches only two. So bring your knights and bishops out early, toward the middle. Keep your own king safe, and then go for hers.

Play all the way

Sonja never gives up, and there is no clock, so there is only one way to win: checkmate. When you are winning, keep going. Late in the game, Sonja sometimes lets you checkmate her with just one move. Look for that chance after every move she makes. If you miss it, she fixes the problem on her next move.

Here is one warning: when Sonja is losing, she says yes to a draw. But a draw is not a win, so never offer her one.

How you get the sticker

Beat Sonja in a Battle, and she gives you her mascot button. The button then sits on your shelf in the Attic. The button proves you beat her. Show it to your grown-up or coach. They hand you the sticker for your passport. White or Black, both count. If you lose, say good game and try again as often as you like.